Dispensing machine



Feb; 1o, '1942.A`

l. AH. WILSEY DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l I. H. WILSEY pIsPENsING MACHINE Feb. 10, 1942.

Filed Aug. 2e, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 2 fnvefzzfor V m m M.

Feb. 10, 1942. H, wlLsEY 2,272,859.

DISPENS ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets--Sheetl 3 Feb.l 10, 1942. l- H, wlLsEY 2,272,859

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet4 IEJ.

COIN klu com REFILL 96 LOCK- OUT SwLrcH swrrcH Moron 6 8j 99 ADJUSTABLE CARRIER 65 v EMPTY" RELEASE s wncH con. f

Fo* r MOTOR SWITCH L 2 y jizz/elder jizz/gel?. VIZ/defy Patented Feb. 10, 1942 'UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

".l'he present invention pertains to dispensing machines for articles such as bottled or packaged goods.

By way of orientation in the art the presently disclosed machine may be considered as an improvement on that disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 341,448, led June 20, 1940, and Serial No. 345,288, illed July 13, 1940.

i In the earlier iiled of said copending applications I have disclosed a bottle dispenser comprising a series of superimposed and separately revoluble carriers or trays of frusto conical form having bottle receiving pockets on their exteriors and from which the bottles are discharged by dogs, operative as an incident to carrier rotation, to strip passing bottles from the associated carriers. To revolve the carriers, they are driven from a single electric motor 'through overdrive connections, the carriers being normallyl latched against rotation and a. predetermined carrier being unlatched for a 'desired step of rotation through the action of a coin operated electric control system. of said copending applications I have disclosed a somewhat similar dispensing machine embodying a novel type of selective control apparatus to permit rotation vof a selectedv carrier from a series in which the several carriers are loaded with correspondingly different varieties of bottled goods. Though the machines described and claimed in said copending applications embody a number of important features other than those briefly indicated above, the foregoing will sulllce in ascertaining the relation of the improvements herein disclosed and which accord with the present invention.

One object of the present invention is to provide a plural carrier dispensing machine of the type utilizing a single drive motor for a whole` series of carriers, in which a novel mechanical interconnecting arrangement' is utilized for accomplishing 'rotation of successive loaded carriers, as distinguished from the utilization of an electrical control system for such purpose as disclosed in my prior applications referred to above.

Another object is to provide a dispensing ma-A chine embodying a series of rotatable carriers together with a novel arrangement for coupling them together so that the drive is transmitted from a terminal one of the series through successive ones in the series to rotate them successively and through predetermined angular distances for each.

Another object is to provide such a dispensing machine embodying a novel arrangement for ini- In the later filed onev chines.

Further objects and advantages vof the inven-A tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection wit-h the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a dispensing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of certain of the article-carriers of the machine, showing particularly the lost-motion type mechanical interconnecting means therebetween.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5is an enlarged detailedvside elevation o f the step-dening means for the article-carriers.

Fig. 6is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially valong the line 1 1 in Fig. 2, showing the delivery apparatus for stripping the bottles from one of the carriers.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail stop 4motion views, showing in end elevation one of the stripper dogs and adjacent carrier structure.

Figs. 10'and l1 are diagrammatic views showing the interrelation of the carrier lost-motion connection elements under diiierent conditions of operation.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the electric control system for the machine.

Simply by way of exemplication, the invention vhas been disclosed herein as embodied in a v machine especially designed for the dispensing of refrigerated bottled drinks. This particular illustrative form has been chosen because in some of its more limited aspects the invention has particularly to do with that class of machine. In its broader aspects, however, the invention is, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, applicable to my other type of dispensing ma- Consequently, even though the particular form of the machine shown has been descrlbedrin some detail herein, there is no intention tollimit the invention to such embodiment but. on the other hand, I intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Upon reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the dispensing machine illustrated therein comprises an upright cabinet IIJ of square cross section, resembling in general outline and construc tion the familiar refrigerator cabinet. Within this cabinet in a compartment I2 is housed a bottle storage and feed apparatus hereinafter described.V In brief, bottled drinks are loaded within the cabinet and cooled by a suitable refrigerating system incorporated in the cabinet structure and including a. refrigerant evaporator coil II (Fig. 4) supplied with refrigerant from a suitable compresser-condenser unit (not shown) housed in the lower portion of the cabinet and suitably controlled to maintain uniformly a desired temperature within the cabinet compartment I2 (Figs. 2 and 4). A purchaser inserts a coin or other check in the coin box I3 (Fig. l) whereupon a chilled bottled drink is automatically delivered to him in the pocket I4 at the lower end of a delivery housing I5.

The cabinet I itself is shown as being of more or less conventional form for refrigerators. It comprises inner and outer steel shells I6, I 1 separated by heat insulation I8 (Figs. 2 and 4) to deflne an inner heat insulated compartment I2, the front of which is closed by a pair of hinged heat insulated doors I8, 26 (Fig. 1). These doors are customarily locked so that they can only be opened by the proprietor. The bottle storage and feed apparatus within the compartmenty I2 is adapted to receive and store bottles b in the same general coniguration as the machine described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 341,448 referred to above. In common with the machine illustrated in said copending application, the presently disclosed one is designed to receive the bottles in a series of generally conical groups, each group being seated on one of a series of revoluble carriers, and the carriers being nested down one over the other. By virtue of this arrangement a maximum storage capacity is achieved. In the presently disclosed machine, however, a distinctly new and different arrangement is provided for revolving the carriers. Before proceeding to this latter point, however, the construction of the individual carriers will be described.

'I'he bottles b are seated on a plurality of revoluble carriers any number of which may be provided, four being shown herein (Fig. 4) and designated as 2l to 24. The twov intermediate carriers in the series, 22 and 23, are identical in construction Each comprises a sheet metal hood 25 of frusto conical shape fixed to a complementally shaped peripheral flange on a central disk shaped spider 26. The spiders 26 are integral with hubs 21. Bottle receiving pockets are formed in an annular series about the exterior of the hoods 25 (see Fig. 2) by a plurality of V- shaped sheet metal barrier strips 28 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the surface of the hoods. 'Ihe lower ends of the legs of adjacent strips 28 are joined by transverse metal strips 28a which form the bottoms of the pockets (see also Fig. 3). The other or terminal carriers 2I and 24 of the series'are of substantially the same construction as the intermediate carriers except for their hubs. Thus the upper terminal carrier 2| has an upwardly projecting hub 21a on lt and to the upper end of which is i'lxed a sprocket wheel 28. Similarly, the lower terminal carrier 24 has a short hub 211 bolted to a coaxial sleeve 30 having a sprocket wheel 3l xed to its lower portion.

The series of carriers 2l to 24 are revolubly supported in predetermined vertically spaced relation on a stationary upright shaft 32 (Fig. 4). This shaft is fixed to the upper and lower walls of the compartment I2 by suitable brackets 33, 34. Collars 35, pinned to the shaft 32, support the three upper carriers 2| to 23, while the sleeve 30, fixed to the lower carrier 24, is arranged with its lower end resting on the complemental upper end of the lower bracket 34.

Step-by-step rotation of the carriers 2I to 24 (by a drive mechanism described below) past corresponding delivery stations is utilized to strip successive bottles b from the carriers. For this purpose dog mechanisms-substantially like those described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 341,448 referred to above are provided. For present purposes it is sufllcient to note that a dog 36 (Figs. 2 and 7) in the form of an `offset arm on the end of a bar 31 is provided for each of the carriers. The dogs 36 project upwardly into what amounts to an annular slot or groove in the bottom of the corresponding carrier. For this purpose each of the barrier strips 21 is notched, as indicated, at 38 and at a point below the peripheral edge of the adjacent carrier hood 25. Consequently, the dog 36 passes through the lower portion of successive ones of the pockets as the carrier rotates, and, as the dog moves into each pocket, it raises the bottle therein (in moving from the position of Fig. 8 to thatof Fig. 9) so that the lower end of the bottle is freed from the abutment strip 28 at the bottom of the pocket. The bottle, thus lifted, is free to slide by gravity oil" of the inclined surface of the carrier. Each of the dog bars 31 is mounted for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis in a bracket 39 (Figs. 2 and '7) fixed to an upright 40 adjacent the front of the compartment I2. The ends of the bars 31 opposite the dogs 36 have oiiset end portions 4I engaged by torsion springs 42 which also engage the adjacent bracket arms. These torsion springs urge the bars 31 to rotate counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 7) thus tending to draw the dogs 36 down out of operative engagement with the bottles on the associated carriers. The cabinet door 26 is arranged to abut against the offset bar ends 4I, when the door is in its closed position, thus forcing the dogs 36 up into operative position. Whenever the door 20 is' opened, however, the clogs 36 are automatically retracted by the action of the springs 42.

Bottles b stripped from the various carriers 2I to 24 by the dogs 36, in the manner described above, are received in the delivery housing I5 (Figs. 1 and '7). This delivery housing is made of sheet metal, being rectangular in cross section and its side walls project into a complementally shaped elongated slot in the cabinet door I9 (see Fig. 2)

The inner portion of the housing I5 has inclined partitions or slides 43 fixed therein and alined with corresponding ones of the carriers. As the bottles b slip down off of the carriers they move on down these slides 43 and over the lower front edges of the latter so that they pass down the housing or chute I and are finally received in the cup I4 which forms the lower terminus of the ho `ing. The inner surfaces of the housing I5 and ts slides 43V are preferably covered with fiuted rubber mats 44 (Fig. 7) so as to safely limit .the speed of sliding movement of the bottles.

In order to effect the necessary rotation of successive ones of the carriers to deliver bottles from them as described above, a novel interrelated drive system has been provided in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. In brief, the instant drive system is such that either one or the other of the two terminal carriers 2| or 24 in the series can be power driven, each in the same direction, from a single electric motor. The arrangement is, furthermore,

such that the drive is transmitted, through the carriers themselves, to one after another of them beginning with the terminal carrier which is selected for power drive and progressing on through the series to the other end. Also, the arrangement is such that each carrier is revolved into a predetermined angular position relative to the next adjacent carrier before it becomes eective to initiate revolving movement of such adjacent carrier. The rotation of each of the carriers is effected in a step-by-step manner, each step being of sufficient distance to bring a fresh bottle into operative engagement with the associated stripper dog, and each step of movement for the various carriers is initiated by actuation of a coin or check controlled device.

As to the alternatively available drive connections to the two terminal carriers 2| and 24, it

will be observed upon reference to Fig. 4 that an electric driving motor 45 is provided. 'Ihis niotor is connected to a sprocket 46 through a speed reduction gearing in a housing 41 and the sprocket 46 is, in turn, connected by an endless holler chain 48 with a second sprocket 49. The latter sprocket is fixed on a vertical drive shaft 50 supported for free rotation and limited endwise movement by bearings 5| in the rear right hand corner of the compartment I2 (see also Fig. 2).

The drive shaft 50 is shiftable endwise from the mid or neutral position shown, either up or down, by means of a shifter fork 52 engaged with a collar 53 fast on the shaft and pivotally mounted on a bracket 54 on the side wall of the compartment. A sector 55 fast on the shifter fork has an arcuate slot 56 .in it through which projects a bolt 5l having a wing nut 58 on` it and by means of which the shifter fork 52 may be releasably retained in either the mid or neutral position shown or in its alternatively available upper or lower positions. Clutch mechanisms, designated generally as 58 and 59 (Fig. 4) are arranged at the upper and lower end p0rtions of the shaft 50, respectively, the clutch 58 boing larranged for engagement when the shaft is shifted downward and the clutch 59 to be engaged when the shaft is shifted upward.

The upper clutch mechanism 58 comprises a collar 60 loosely encircling the shaft 50 andl mounted for free rotation on a bracket 6|, Slots or interdental spaces 62 in the upper edge of the collar 60 are arranged to receive a cooperating'cross pin 63 on the shaft 50. Similarly, the lower clutch 59 'includes a collar 64 freely revoluble in a bracket 65 and having notches 66 arranged to receive a cross pin 6,1 on the shaft 50. The upper clutch collar 60 has fixed to it a sprocket 68 over which isitrained an endless roller chain 69 connecting it to the sprocket 29 fast on the hub of the upper carrier 2|. Similarly, the lower clutch collar 94 hasfast on it a sprocket 10 over which is trained an endless roller chain 1| that connects it to the sprocket 3I on the lower carriers sleeve 30. It will thus be seen that when the wing nut 58 is loosened and the shifter fork 52 swung upward to engage the clutch 59 that the motor 45 is connected in projections are provided on them. Thus each` of the carriers 24, 23 and 22 has on it an upstanding projection 1'? in the form of an integral extension on one of its barrier strips 28 (Figs. 3 and 4). Cooperating with these projections 12 are L-shaped lugs lor projections 13 xed on the lower sides of the carriers 2|, 22 and 23. A similar bottom projection 13 is also provided on the lower carrier 24 for engagement with the actuator for a stop switch as hereinafter described. With such an arrangement, when one of the carriers is revolved to a position in which one of the connecting projections on its abuts against the complemental connecting projections on the next adjacent carrier, the latter is thereafter revolved with the first mentionedfcarrier.

An important characteristic ofthe drive arrangement described above is that, after one of the terminal carriers has been revolved sufciently so that all of the other carriers are i'lnally connected in'driven relation with it, then the other 'terminal carrier can subsequently be made `the driver and revolved in identically the same direction in which it .was turned as the tail-end member of the series before, to effect a successive picking up of the carriers in the series but progressing in the opposite direction through the series. To make this action plain, reference may be made to the diagrammatic views in Figs. 10 and 11 in which the various For this purpose the clutch 59 is', of course, eny gaged to connect the motor 45 to the lower carrier 24. After the lower carrier makes substantially one full revolution its projection 12 engages the right hand face of the complemental projection 13 on the next carrier 23. Thereafter, during the next succeeding revolution of the terminal carrier 24 the adjacent carrier 23 vis carried with it. Similarly in the next revolution of the carrier 24 both the carriers 22 and 23 are carried with it. This picking up of an additional carrierv continues throughout the series until it has, so to speak, been wound up, coming to rest with the projections 12, 13 located in the relative positions shown in Fig. 11. Thereafter, if the clutch 59 is disengaged and the clutch 58 engaged, in the manner heretofore described, to connect the drive motor 45 to the other or uppery terminal carrier 2| the latter will again be revolved clockwise from the `position shown in Fig. 11. Accordingly, the projection 134 on the carrier 2| moves away from the coacting projection 12 on the next carrier 22, the carrier 2| makes substantially a full revolution, and at the end of this first revolution the projection 13 on the carrier 2| contacts the right hand face of the projection 12 on the carrier 22. During the next succeeding revolution the carrier 22 is carried along with the carrier 2| and during each succeeding revolution another carrler is picked up. This continues until the whole series. of carriers is again unwound, coming to rest in the initial position shown in Fig. 10. It will be observed that during this operation each successive carrier makes substantially a full revolution before the next succeeding carrier is connected in driven relation with the power actuated terminal carrier. More precisely, each carrier revolves, under the circumstances noted, through 360 degrees less the width of the interconnecting projection on the next adjacent carrier.

The feature of unidirectional rotation of the carriers `for either winding or unwinding" of the series is highly desirable in that it insures that in either case the carriers will revolve in the same direction with respect to lthe stripper mechanisms which operate to release the bottles from them. This simplifies the construction of the stripper mechanisms since they need Le de` signed to accommodate only one direction of rotation of the associated carrier. Additionally, a unidirectional drive motor without any reversinggearing can be used, as distinguished from a more expensive reversing type of drive.

To accomplish a step-by-step type of carrier rotation during dispensing, as distinguished from a continuous rotation, a step-defining mechanism designated generally at 15 is utilized (Figs. 4, and 6). This mechanism comprises a pair of peripherally notched disks 18, 11 rigidly xed to the drive shaft 50. Each disk has a notch in it corresponding to one of the bottle-receiving pockets on the carriers. The disks are, however, arranged with the notches on one cset slightly in an angular sense with respect to the corresponding notches on the other. This offset is suiiicient to accommodate the difference in stopping position required when the series of carriers is being driven from the respective upper or lower terminal carriers. i. e. wound or unwound A latch mechanism, including a sector shaped latch plate 18 pivoted on a bracket 19 is arranged to engage one or the other of the disks 16, 11, depending upon which of the two is moved into registry with it by the endwise shifting of the shaft 58. Thus, when the shaft 5I) is shifted downward to engage the upper clutch 58 the notched disk 16 is alined with the nose of the latch plate 18. On the other hand, when the shaft 50 is shifted upward to engage the lower clutch 59, the other notched disk 11 is positioned for engagement with the latch plate 18. A tension spring 80 yieldably urges the latch plate 18 into engage ment with the periphery of the alined one of the alternatively available disks, while a solenoid 8|, having its armature 82 pivotally connected with the latch plate, serves, when energized, to retract the latch.

Associated with the latch mechanism described above is a motorA switch 83 comprising a pair of normally open switch contacts carried by yieldable spring fingers 84, mounted in insulated relation to each other. The lower spring finger 85 is disposed in the path of the heel of vthe latch plate 18 so that when the latter is retracted the finger 85 will be pushed upward. closing the switch. Thus, if the solenoid 8| is momentarily energized to withdraw the latch plate 18 so that the cooperating one of the disks 16, 11 is freed for rotation, the switch 83 will be simultaneously closed to start the motor 45 so that the shaft 50 starts to revolve. This moves the notch, in which the latch plate 18 was previously entered, out of registry with the latch plate. Therefore, upon subsequent deenergization of the solenoid 8| the nose of the latch rides loosely along the periphery of the revolving disk. When the next notch on the disk reaches the latch plate, however, the latter snaps into this notch, thereby opening the switch 83 to stop the motor and also positively arresting further rotation of the drive shaft 58. In this way each step of rotation for the carriers can be initiated simply by a momentary energization of the single solenoid 8|.

If it is desired to revolve the carriers continuously, rather than step by step, it is necessary, in general, to energize the solenoid 8| substantially continuously so that the latch plate 18 will be maintained in retracted position and the motor 45 continuously energized by the closed switch 83. Such continuous rotation of the carriers is desirable during refilling or restocking of the machine and a manually operable "rell switch 86 (Fig. 2) is mounted within the cabinet and connected in a manner hereinafter described to eifect the necessary continuous energization of the solenoid 8|.

In some instances it is desirable to arrest further rotation of the carriers 2| to 24 after the movement thereof has progressed through only a part of the total available series of steps. To this end an empty switch 81 (Figs. 2 and 4) is provided within the cabinet. This switch has a pair of normally open contacts and is arranged to be closed by an arm 88 xed to an upright shaft 89. This shaft 89 is `iournaled for oscillation by a pair of bearings 90 and has on it an arm 9| projecting from a collar 92 which may be releasably held in any desired position of adjustment longitudinally of the shaft by a thumb screw 93. In the position shown in Fig. 4 the arm 9| is arranged to be contacted by the projection 13 on the uppermost carrier 2|. When contacted by this projection the arm 9| is swung counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) thereby causing the arm 88 to close the empty" switch 81. Through the medium of circuits described below, closure of this switch serves to stop the drive motor 45. In a similar manner the arm 9| can be positioned along the length of the shaft 89 to be contacted by the projections 13 on any of the other carriers so that they too can serve to stop the drive motor 45. Incidentally, it should be noted at this point that again the unidirectional rotation of the carriers serves to simplify this actuating mechanism for the empty switch 81 since such actuating mechanism need be arranged for operation only in response to rotation of the associated carriers in one direction.

Turning now to the electric control system for the machine (Fig. 12), most of the elements will by now be familiar, including the rell switch 86, the adjustable empty switch 81, the

motor switch 83, the solenoid or carrier release coil 8| and, of course, the motor 45 itself. Additionally, the system shown includes a coin switch 95, a coin lockout coil 96, and a lockout relay 91 having an actuating winding 98 and a closed upon dropping a coin into the coin box.

The lockout coil 96 acts, in accordance with usual practice in such coin/boxes, when energized, to divert the entering coin from the coin receiver and permit it to pass on out into a return cup |38 on the coin box. When the lockout coil 96 is deenergized, however, the inserted coin is free to pass into the usual coin receptacle within the box.

As to the operation of the machine it will first of all be assumed that all of the carriers 2| to 29 are fully'loaded and disposed initially with their coacting projection 12, 13 positioned relative to each other in the unwound position indicated in Fig. 10. In such case the proprietor, prior to locking the doors I9, 20,"reaches into the compartment I2 and shifts the drive shaft 50 upward so as to engage the lower clutch 59 and disengage the upper clutch 58. 'I'he refill switch 86 is, of course, open and it will further be assumed that the actuating. arm 9| for the empty switch 81 is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 or, in other words, located so as t0 be actuated by the projection 13 on the uppermost carrier 2| after the latter has turned through a full revolution from its initial position. Having thus initially set up the machine the proprietor closes and locks the doors I9 and 29. Incidentally, it should be noted that the closing of the door 20 thrusts the stripper dogs 38 up into operative position. v

After the machine has been initially conditioned as described above, the insertion of a coin into the coin box I3 causes the coin switch 95 to be momentarily closed. Closure of this coin switch effects a corresponding momentary energization of the solenoid 8| (through a circuit L1-958|-Lz) so that the latch plate 18 is momentarily withdrawn from engagement with the notched disk 11. Withdrawal of the latch plate also closes the motor switch 83 starting the drive motor B5. As a consequence, the lower terminal carrier 29 is advanced one step, with the `result that a bottle is stripped from it by its cooperating dog 36 'and the bottle thus removed slides down the delivery housing I into the pocket lli where it can be picked up by the purchaser. At the end of this one step of advance the nose of the latch plate 18 drops into the next notch on the disk 11, thereby positively arresting further rotation of the carrier 26 and also opening the switch 18 to deenergize the drive motor. I

The operation described above is repeated, as

successive coins are dropped into the box I3 un .til the carrier 24 has been stepped around through substantially one full revolution and atwhich point its contents is exhausted. Thereupon its interconnecting projection 12 comes into abutting engagement with the mating projection 13 on the next carrier 23. Accordingly, the carrier 23 is stepped around with the carrier 24 during the succeeding revolution of the latter,

the steps of which vare caused by dropping successive coins into the box I3. Such step-by-step rotation of successive carriers continues through the series until nally the last carrier 2| has been turned through a full revolution. Thereupon the projection 13 on this last carrier strikes the arm 9|, turning the shaft 89 and closing the empty switch 81. Closure of this switch 81 completes a circuit for the energizing winding 98 ofthe lockout relay 91 so that the latter closes its cont-g.V

tacts 99 which, in turn, complete an energizing circuit for the lockout coil 96. As a result, any

coins thereafter dropped into the coin box I3 will simply be returned to the prospective purchaser, indicating that the machine is empty,

Machines of the -character described are commonly serviced by a driver who goes daily over a route including va number of such machines. The driver or service man collects the money from each machine and replenishes the stock of bottles. More often than not he will find that only part of the stock of bottles has been sold from a machine when he arrives to rell it. The machine herein disclosed is particularly adapted to meet such a contingency in that it can be readily set up to dispense first the lbottles which are already in the machine, and, hence,

already cold, and thereafter dispense the newly stocked bottles, which will have had an opportunity to be cooled in the meantime. For example, the service man may find that all of the bottles have been sold from carriers 28 and 23 but that carriers 2| and 22 are still full. Upon discovering this condition when he opens the cabinet doors I9, 20 the service man closes the refill switch 86. Closurev of this switch 86 energizes the solenoid 8| continuously 'so that the motor 45 is lenergized to revolve the carriers around and around without any pause or steps. As the empty carriers 23 and 24 revolve the operator slides fresh bottles, neck foremost, into the pockets to refill these carriers. During this revolving movement the series of carriers is fully wound up so that all of the interengaging projections 12, 13 are engaged in the manner shown in Fig. 11. After the carriers 23, 24 have thus been refilled, the operator opens the refill switch 86, stopping the motor 45. HeA then reaches in and loosens the wing nut 58 and shifts the fork 52 so as to disengage the previously engaged lower clutch 59 and engagethe upper clutch 58. The service man also loosens the thumb screw 93 and shifts the empty switchs actuator arm 9| down for engagement with the projection 13 on the lowermost carrier 24. He then closes and locks the cabinet doors I9, 20 and the machine is thereby conditioned for a subsequent "unwinding cycle of dispensing. In this subsequent dispensing operation the drive is derived through the upper terminal carrier 2| so that its load is discharged flrst and then the load of bottles on the carrier 22 and so on down through the series. In this way the colder bottles on the carriers 2| and 22 are dispensed first.

In some instances the service man may find that he does not have on hand sufficient bottles to fill all of the carries and in such case the actuator arm 9| for the empty switch 81 can be set at an appropriate point to stop themachine after all ofthe available vfractional load of bottles has been dispensed. In this connection it should be noted that the actuator arm. 9| 1 can be set for engagement with the projection 13 on any one of the carriers, thereby stopping the dispensing cycle when the selected carrier reaches the angular position in which its projection 13 contacts the actuator arm 9| so that the carriers which follow it in the series are, in effect, cut out of service. Similarly, the condition can be accommodated in which only a portion of the pockets on one of the carriers are iilled with bottles. In such case the partially filled carrier is revolved by hand, during the reloading operation, so that all of its empty pockets have been moved past the associated stripper dog 36. Thereafter, this carrier will be stepped around by the drive mechanism in the usual way to dispense the fractional load of bottles on it and at the completion of such dispensing of the bottles one of the projections on it will either pick up the next adjacent carrier to revolve the latter or else strike the actuator arm Si for the empty switch, as the case may be. The free rotational mounting of the carriers fully accommodates such manual adjustment of the initial angular positions of the various carriers.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of revoluble article-carriers all journalled for rotation about a common axis, power actuated means for alternatively revolving one or the other of the two terminal carriers of the series though in each instance inthe same direction, and means for causing successive carriers in the series to revolve in unison with a carrier next adjacent to it upon a predetermined angular positioning of such adjacent carriers relative to each other beginning with the carrier adjacent the one of said terminal car-riers which is driven by said power actuated means and progressing through the series in'a direction away from such power driven terminal carrier.

2. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of carriers all disposed for rotation about a common axis, means including a projection on each carrier arranged to abut against a mating projection on each next adjacent carrier for connecting adjacent ones of said carriers for rotation in unison when such adjacent carriers are revolved relative to each other to bring their mating projections into abutting en'- gagement in either of two relative angular positions of the carriers, such positions being spaced apart 360 degrees less the thickness of one of said projections, rst power actuated means for revolving one of the 'terminal carriers of the series in one direction to bring said projections on successive ones of said carriers in the series, beginning with said one terminal carrier, into engagement with the mating projection on the next adjacent carrier in the series until all of said carriers are revolving in unison in said one direction, and a second power actuated means for alternatively revolving the other terminal carrier of said series in said same one direction to bring successive ones of said carriers, beginning with said other terminal carrier, into engagement with the mating projections on the next adjacent carrier in the series until all of said carriers are again revolving in unison in said one direction though driven from said other terminal carrier.

3. In a. dispensing machine, the combination of a series of revoluble carriers each adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be dispensed, discharge means for delivering successive articles from associated ones of said carriers as an incident to rotation thereof, power actuated drive means for said carriers, check-controlled means for initiating successive incremental operations yof of said drive means, each suiiicient to move a carrier far 4enough to effect the delivery of an article from it by said discharge means, and presettable controlmeans for conditioning said drive means to revolve said carriers with rotation of individual carriers initiated one after another alternatively in either a first predetermined order of the carriers or in a second predetermined order which is the reverse of the rst.

4. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of revoluble article-carriers all journaled for rotation about a common axis, power actuated means for alternatively revolving one or the other of the two terminal carriers of the series though in each instance in the same direction, connecting means for causing successive carriers in the series to revolve in unison with a carrier next adjacent to it upon a predetermined angular positioning of such adjacent carriers relative to each other beginning with the carrier adjacent the one of said terminal carriers which is driven by said power actuated means and progressing in the series in a direction away from such power driven terminal carrier, check-controlled means. operable upon each actuation thereof to render said power actuated means operative to advance the terminal carrier associated therewith by said connecting means a predetermined step, and discharge means associated with said carriers for delivering therefrom an article upon each step cf advance thereof.

5. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of revoluble article-carriers all journaled for rotation about a common axis, power actuated means for alternatively revolving one vor the other of the two terminal carriers of the Aseries though in each instance in the same direction, presettable connecting means for causing successive carriers in the series to revolve in unison with a carrier next adjacent to it upon a predetermined angular positioning of such adjacent carriers relative to each other beginning with the carrier adjacent the one of said terminal carriers which is driven by said power actuated means and progressing iny the series in a direction away from such power driven terminal carrier, a pair of peripheral notched disks arranged to be revolved in unison with respective ones of said terminal carriers, a withdrawable latch, electromagnetic means operable when energized to withdraw said latch, means operable' in response to the setting of said presettable connecting means for shifting the corresponding one of said disks into operative relation with said latch, said latch being normally urged to- Ward the notched periphery of the disk operatively associated with it, either of said disks being operative when held by engagement of said latch with a notch therein to prevent rotation of said carriers, check-controlled means for momentarily energizing said electromagnetic means to Withdraw said latch and free the associated disk, and means for rendering said power actuated means operative so long as said latch is withdrawn.

6. In a. dispensing machine, the combination a drive shaft, means supporting said shaft for free rotation and for limited axial shifting movement, an electric drive motor for said shaft, a series of article-carriers all journaled for rotation about a common axis, means including iirst and second clutches alternatively engageable upon shifting of said shaft endwise to respective limit positions for connecting said shaft in driving relation with respective terminal volving one of the terminal carriers in the series, means rendered operable upon/the completion of a predetermined rotation of /said one terminal carrier relative to the next adjacent carrier to connect the latter in driven yrelation with said i one terminal carrier, means for connecting each away from such` driven terminal carrier, and' means including a latch mechanism stationarily supported adjacent said shaft and a pair of peripherally notched disks fixed to said shaft and adapted to be alternatively positioned for engagement withl the latch in the respective limit positions of endwise shifting of saidshaft for defining incremental steps of revolution for the shaft.

7. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a plurality of revolubly mounted carriers, each adapted to receive an annular series of articles to be dispensed, discharge means for delivering articles presented successively thereto by said carriers as an incident to the latters rotation, means including a single electric motor for revolving all of said carriers, a peripherally notched disk driven by said motor in unison with said carriers, a latch normally urged into engagement with said disk for holding the disk and ymotor againstk further rotation whenthe latch enters one of the disks notches, electromagnetic means operable when energized to withdraw said latch, check-controlled means operable when actuated to momentarily energize said electromagnetic means, and means for energizing said motor whenever said latch is in withdrawn position.

8. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of carriers all mounted for free rotation about a common axis and each being adapted to receive an annularly disposed series of successive carrier in the series, progressing from said one terminal carrier toward the other end of the seriesin driven relation with the carrier ahead ofit in the series after the latter has revolved to a predetermined angular position relative to the succeeding carrier, check-controlled means'operative upon each actuation thereof to lrender-said power actuated means operative to advance said one terminal carrier a step, each step of carrier advance being sufiicient to present the'next successive article thereon to the associated discharge means, and means presettable at will to disableA said check-controlled means against causing said power actuated means to effect further carrier rotation when any desired carrier in the series reaches a predetermined angular position of advance.

10. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of carriers all mounted for free rotation about a common axis and each being adapted to receive an annularly disposed series connect the latter in driven relation with said y one terminal carrier, means for connecting each articles to be dispensed, a plurality of discharge i means, one for cach carrier, for stripping successive articles therefrom in the course of carrier rotation, power actuated means for revolving one of the terminal carriers in the series,

means rendered operable uponthe completion of a predetermined rotation of said one terminal carrier relative to the nextadjacent carrier to connect the latter in driven relation with said one terminal carrier, means for connecting each successive carrier in the series,.

progressing froml said one terminal carrier toward the other end of the series, in drivenrelation with the carrier ahead of it in the series after the latter has revolved to a predetermined angular position relative to the succeeding carrier, check-controlled means operative upon each actuation thereof to render said power actuated means operative to advance said one terminal carrier a step, each step of carrier advance being suiiicient to present the next successive article thereon to the associated discharge means, and means available at will as an alternative to said check-controlled means for rendering said power actuated means operative to revolve said terminal carrier continuously rather than with a step-by-step motion.

9. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of carriers all mounted for free-rotation about a common axis and each being i adapted to receive an annularly disposed series of articles to be dispensed, a plurality of discharge means, one for each carrier, for stripping successive articles therefrom in the courseof carrier rotation, power actuated means forreof articles to be dispensed, a plurality of discharge means', one for each carrier, for stripping successive articles therefrom in the course of carrier rotation, power actuated means for revolving one of the terminal carriers in the series, means rendered operable upon the completion 'of a predetermined rotation of said one terminal carrier relative to the next adjacent carrier to successive carrier in the series, progressing from said one terminal carrier toward the other end of the series, in driven relation with the carrier ahead of it inthe series after the latter has revolved to a predetermined angular position relative to the succeeding carrier, and said carriers all being manually positionable initially,

in view of their free rotational mounting, to a desired initial angular position relative toi,the next adjacent carriers on each side of them in the series.

11. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a vertical shaft having av series of superim- 'posed carriers freely journaled thereon at vertically spaced points, each of said carriers being of generally conical form nested down over the carrier next below it and each carrier having thereon means defining a series of articlereceiving pockets about its exterior conical surface, discharge means cooperating with the respective carriers for releasing articles from successive pockets thereon as the carriers are revolved past said discharge means to permit the released articles 'to slide outward and downward from the conical carrier surface by gravity for delivery, power actuated means for revolving one of the two terminal carriers in the series, and each of said carriers having a projection thereon arranged to engage acomplemental projection on the next adjacent carrier in the series when revolved into a predetermined angular position relative to such next adjacent carrier whereby'the whole series of carriers is revolved one after another from said power driven terminal carrier.

12. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a series of carriers mounted for independent lrotation about a common axis and each adapted to receive an annularly disposed series of articles to be dispensed, a plurality of discharge means, one for each carrier, for stripping successive articles therefrom in the course of rotation of the associated carrier, power actuated means for revolving one of the terminal carriers in the series, and means forming mechanical lost-motion connections between the adjacent carriers in the series for causing successive carriers to be revolved from said one terminal carrier after each successive carrier has been revolved to a predetermined angular position with relation to its next adjacent carrier.

13. In a dispensing machine, the combination of a vertical shaft, means journaling each of a series of article-carriers for free rotation on said shaft at vertically spaced points, each of said carriers comprising a sheet metal hood of truncated conical form and each being nested down overthe carrier next below it, each carrier having thereon a plurality of upright barrier strips extending up toward the carrier center and deining an annular series of articlereceiving pockets about the exterior of the hoods truncated conical surface, discharge means cooperating with the respective carriers for releasing articles from successive pockets thereon vas the carriers are revolved past said discharge means to permit the released articles to slide outward and downward from the truncated conical hood surface by gravity for delivery, power actuated means for revolving one of the two terminal carriers in the series on said shaft, and each of said carriers except the uppermost one having a projection thereon integral with one of said barrier strips and extending upwardly to engage a complemental downwardly extending projection on the next adjacent carrier in the series when revolved into a predetermined angular position relative to such next adjacent carrier, whereby the whole series of carriers may be revolved one after another from the power driven terminal carrier.

IRVEN H. WILSEY. 

